The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-08

the second in 1845. This work contains
the best of Gaelic poetry, with biogra-
phies of thirty-six Gaelic bards, together
with an appendix containing fifty of
the most celebrated ditties in the Ian
guage. The poetry is Gaelic, but the
prose is in English. The work is pre-
faced with lengthy introduction by
James Logan, the celebrated author of
"The Scottish Gael" After speaking
of the Beauties of Gaelic Poetry"
Prof. Blackie remarked, 'Posterity will
think justly you owe more to him than
to MACPHERSON
The above work was followed in 1874,
in Gaelic, by History of Prince
Charles" These two works secured
John Mackenzie considerable fame in
literary circles, and position with an
Edinburgh publishing firm to do liter
airy work at five dollars per week
While thus employed, he translated
many works into Gaelic, among which
were Baxter's "Call to the Unconvert-
ed" and Bunyan's Pilgrims Prog
ress" In all he composed, translated,
and edited about thirty different publ
cations,-his last completed work be-
ing MacAlpine's Dictionary" the
English Gaelic being his composition,
published in 1916. The labor bestowed
upon this work undermined his health,
but he continued to survive until Aug.
10, 1913.
AT the time of his death he was en-
gagged on new edition of the Gaelic
Bible. Among the manuscripts he left
and which have not been published, are
several popular Highland airs, two sep
arate manuscript volumes containing
the poems of Alexander Campbell and
Alexander Grant, ready for the prin-
ter,-these unfortunately disappeared
Immediately after his death, the 'Lives
of the Bards," and other valuable man.
uscripts. A few months after his death
a large chest full of valuable papers
were heedlessly burnt by the family
who considered them of no value.
In making up MacAlpine's Die
tionary, the publishers unfortunately
placed Mackenzie's preface to Mac
Alpine's share of the work, Gaelic
English. To make the matter still
more unfortunate the publishers issued
the work separately, -MacAlpine's part
appearing with MackeDzie's preface,
and Mackenzie's part without any pre-
face. AS MackeDzie's preface some
what unfavorably criticised MacAl-
pines part of the work, the latter be-
came furious and continued an invet-
crate enemy to Mackenzie as long as he
lived.
Mackenzie was slenderly built, short
featured, fair haired, with a sallow,
delicate-looking complexion. He was
inclined to eccentricity, but with a
large makeup of humor and good nat
ure. A monument was not erected to
his memory until 1878, when some gen.
erous Highlanders purchased an obe-
lisk of grey Aberdeen granite. twelve
and half feet high, at cost of $3.50.
His Beauties of Gaelic Poetry is
considered scarce, although purchased
it in Edinburgh for $3.50.
When l was in Inverness, l called
Alexander MackenZie's attention to the
quotation from Prof. BIackie; and
then turning to Mackenzie said, ''Do
you believe in the doctrine of endless
punishment p Looking me squarely
in the face he replied mo, nor do 1
know of any one who does" 1t must
be remembered that Alexander Mac
kenzie, is not only the editor of the
Celtic Magazine and the Highlander,
besides the author of about dozen diff
ferent books, but also has as large an
acquaintance as any man in the High
lands. 1 found him genial, obliging
gentleman, and received many favors
from him.
My question to Mr.. Mackenzie re-
minds me of a similar one l once
asked DIR. d. G.. Brinton, the ablest
and best informed of American anthrop-
ologists, and who has 1. wider acquain-
lance with ethnologists than any other
man. The question was, "Do you
know of any scientific man who be-
lieves in hell ?" He replied, "If there
are any such, do not know it," While
in the Highlands put the question to
several of the gentry, when occasion
permitted of it, l did not find sim
gle individual who believed in endless
punishment, nor did find one who dis
believed the authenticity of the Bible.
From this hope no one will jump at
the conclusion that l mean to affirm
that no Highlander believes in endless
punishment. 1 wish l could so affirm,
but my Investigations were only Incl
dental.
noticed one popularity among the
Highlanders. You may assault any
doctrine of any church you please, with
out giving the least offense; but you
must be careful and not criticise the
respective church itself; that is, as a